Drier conveying mechanism for envelope machines



DRIER CONVEYING MECHANISM FOR ENVELOPE MACHINES Filed Sept. 8, 1964 Feb.8, 1966 v. E HEYWOOD 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR INCENT E. HEYWOOD o o o oAGENT N g Q:

IEO 0 v. E. HEYWOOD 3,233,889

DRIER CONVEYING MECHANISM FOR ENVELOPE MACHINES Feb. 8, 1966 4Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 8, 1964 Feb. 8, 1966 v. E. HEYWOOD 3,233,889

DRIER CONVEYING MECHANISM FOR ENVELOPE MACHINES Filed Sept. 8, 1964 4Sheets-Sheet 3 F'IG.5

Feb. 8, 1966 v. E. HEYWOOD 3,233,889

DRIER CONVEYING MECHANISM FOR ENVELOPE MACHINES Filed Sept. 8, 1964 4Sheets-Sheet 4 FIG.9 FIG.1O L 90 L Q E 90 1oz f United States Patent acorporation of Maine Filed Sept. 8, 1964, Ser. No. 394,732 7 Claims.(Cl. 271-2) The present invention relates in general to envelopemachines, and more particularly to mechanism for conveying freshlygummed envelopes through a drying zone or chamber.

In the common types of rotary envelope making machines, envelopes havingtheir sealing flaps freshly gummed are required to be subjected to adrying operation before they can be handled to any appreciable extent,so as to prevent such sealing flaps from becoming adhered to its ownenvelope or to adjacent envelopes. Normally, the drying operationcomprises feeding the envelopes alon a conveyor which passes through adrying chamber, with the freshly gummed sealing flaps being exposeddirectly to a drying agent. It is necessary that the gummed areas beexposed to the drying agent for an appreciable length of time to becomeadequately dried. It is desirable that the length of the drying chamberbe at a minimum to conserve floor space, yet long enough to bethoroughly effective. Furthermore, it is desirable to move the envelopesthrough the drying chamber as rapi ly as possible, so that the speed ofthe envelope making machine will not be limited by the speed of thedrier. With the length of the drier as short as possible, and the speedof the conveyor as fast as possible, spacing between the adjacentenvelopes being dried becomes a critical factor. For the drier tooperate efliciently the envelopes must be placed closely together, butwithout allowing the freshly gummed areas to touch an adjacent envelope.

One of the most common types of conveyors for passing envelopes througha dryinng zone is the belt-type, wherein closely shingled envelopeshaving their freshly gummed flaps extended are carried by means of beltsthrough the drying zone. Due to their closely shingled relationship,spacing between adjacent envelopes is at a minimum because there isalmost a continuous area of only the gummed areas exposed. In thepresent invention, it is desired to provide a mechanism which may beused for gumming envelopes having two spaced apart strips of gumthereon, one being on the flap portion and the other being on the bodyportion, in positions so that the two areas will match and come intocontact when the sealing flap is closed, wherein self-adhering gum suchas latex is utilized. Therefore, this common type of drier would not beefficient for this type envelope because of the spaced apart areas ofgum. It should be understood, however, that the present mechanism isalso well adapted for conveying the usual type of envelope having asingle strip of gum on its sealing flap through the drying chamber.

Other types of conveyors for passing envelopes through a drying zone aredisclosed in my prior US. Patents 2,604,829 and 2,755,906 wherein pairsof spaced, parallel chains carry therebetween a plurality ofenvelopegripping fingers. In this type of conveyor, envelopes areindividually gripped between adjacent fingers and held in planesgenerally perpendicular to the direction of movement of the chains, inwhich condition they are moved through the drying zone. A change indirection of travel is required to spread the envelope-holding fingersapart in these conveyors to allow insertion and discharge of theenvelopes.

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My present drier is similar to those shown in my two above-mentionedpatents in that the envelopes on the conveyor assume a parallel positionand are carried generally perpendicular to the direction of travel.However, as will be apparent hereinafter, my present conveyor mechanismprovides many advantages, as well as different construction andoperating characteristics, from my previous driers.

It is an object of this invention to provide envelope conveyor mechanismwhich is adapted to carry envelopes in parallel, spaced apart relation,the envelopes lying in planes substantially perpendicular to thedirection of conveyor feed, and with mechanism which requires a minimumof floor space, the drying taking place as the envelopes are movedvertically upward, and then vertically downward.

It is a further object of my present invention to provide an envelopeconveyor mechanism which operates in a manner such that there is nodependence on a change of direction of the conveyor mechanism at thepoint of entry'and discharge of the envelopes.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide a conveyormechanism which maintains a firm grip on the envelopes therein from thepoint of entry to the point of discharge of the envelopes.

It is a further object of this invention to provide simple mechanism forfeeding the envelopes into the conveyor, and then discharging theenvelopes subsequent to drying.

It is a still further object of the present invention to provide aconveyor mechanism which is easily adjustable to accommodate differentsizes of envelopes, and will also accommodate the afore-mentioncdenvelopes having the two spaced apart strips of self-adhering gum.

Further objects will appear from the following description of theinvention, and the novel features will be particularly pointed outhereinafter in connection with the appended claims.

In the mechanism according to the present invention, envelopes may beconveniently fed from the gumming mechanism into the conveyor mechanismfor movement through the drying zone. Movement of the envelopes must, ofcourse, be controlled as to speed and timing as they move through thegumming mechanism, so as to apply the gum in the required position.Control over these envelopes as to speed and timing is maintained untilthe envelopes are fed into the conveyor mechanism for drying. Theconveyor mechanism comprises a pair of spaced, parallel chains trainedabout pairs of spaced apart sprocket wheels, the path of the chains atthe point of envelope entry being substantially perpendicular to thedirection of feed of the freshly gummed envelopes. Nor mally, thedirection of feed of the freshly gummed envelopes will be horizontal.Pairs of cooperating rollers on rods between the chains are carried byand fixed at positions between the chains, having axes substantiallyperpendicular to each of the chains. Rotation of the sprocket wheelscauses the chains, and consequently the pairs of rollers, to move in aclosed path. As successive pairs of cooperating rollers approach thepath of the advancing envelopes, the rollers are caused to rotate. Assuccessive envelopes intersect the paths of successive pairs of rollers,the envelopes are inserted in the nip of the cooperating rollers, andthe rollers feed the envelopes into the conveyor mechanism apredeterminted distance, at which time rotation of the rollers isdiscontinued. The envelopes are thereupon conveyed through a drying zonewhere stickiness is removed from the adhesive strips by means well knownin the art. At a second point along the conveyor, the rollers holdingthe envelopes in the conveyor are rotated a second time to discharge theenvelopes from the conveyor.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevation View of the conveyor mechanism according tomy invention, a portion of the conveyor being removed to permit as largea scale as practical, and showing especially the position of theconveyor relative to the gumming mechanism of the envelope makingmachine.

FIGURE 2 is a plan view in section, taken substantially along the line2-2 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is an elevation View taken along the line 3-3 of FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 4 is an elevation View in section, taken along the line 4-4 ofFIGURE 4.

FIGURES 5-8 inclusive are schematic views showing the sequence of anenvelope being inserted into the conveyor mechanism.

FIGURES 9 and 10 are schematic views illustrating an envelope beingdischarge from the conveyor mechanism onto another conveyor, thedischarge sequence actually being a reversal of the insertion sequence.

Referring to the drawings, the conveyor mechanism, denoted generally at20, is trained around a lower pair of sprocket wheels 22 and 24, and anupper pair of sprocket wheels 26 and 28. The lower sprocket wheels 22and 24 are fixed to shaft 30, rotatably mounted in the frame members 32and 34. The upper shaft 36 is also rotatably mounted in the horizontallyopposed frame members 32 and 34, and has fixed thereto sprocket wheels26 and 28. The distance between the shafts 30 and 36, and hence thelength of the conveyor mechanism 20, normally would be substantial, say,in the order of 10 to feet, and would be governed by suchcharacteristics as drying time required, conveyor speed, etc. Envelopesare inserted into the conveyor at station A, and discharged at stationE, allowing the distance between the stations for the envelopes to bedried by a suitable drying agent (not shown). The conveyor mechanism isdriven by imparting rotary movement to shaft in a clockwise direction asviewed in FIGURE 1, at a constant speed, so as to carry the conveyorin'the direction indicated by the arrows. Sprocket wheel 37 is fixed toshaft 30 as shown in FIGURE 2 for driving shaft 30.

Envelopes E are fed in spaced apart, timed relation from the feed wheels40 and 42, rotatably mounted in the frame 44 of the envelope makingmachine (not shown) onto the belt 46 trained over the rollers 48 and 50,to be gummed. Rollers 48 and 50 are rotatably mounted in the framemembers 32 and 34, by means of the shafts 52 and 54, and are rotated bysuitable drive means (not shown) at constant speed to carry the belt 46in the direction indicated. The envelopes E being fed onto the belt 46by rollers 40 and 42, and the speed of the belt 46, are in fixed andtimed relation to the movement of the conveyor mechanism 20, so that theleading edges of the envelopes E will intersect the conveyor mechanism20 at predetermined points to provide insertion into the conveyormechanism 20, as will be more thoroughly explained hereinafter.

The belt 46 is provided with a multiplicity of small apertures 56, andthe upper reach of the belt 46 lies over a vacuum chamber 53, vacuumtherein being created by suitable means through the pipe 60 leading tothe chamber 58. Belt 46 forms the upper side of the vacuum chamber 58,and that portion of the belt 46 extending between the ends 62 and 64 ofthe vacuum chamber at any given instant is acted on by the vacuum, tocreate a suction through the apertures 56. As successive envelopes E arefed onto the belt 46 in timed relation from the rollers 46 and 42, theyimmediately come under the influence of the vacuum and are held firmlyto the belt 46, thereby preventing the envelopes from getting out ofalignment. The vacuum acts on the envelopes E continuously until theypass the end 64 of the suction chamber 58.

As the successive envelopes E pass below the roll 66, gum is applied tothe desired areas of the envelopes by d the pickers 68 and 70, mountedon the roll 66. The pickers 68 and 76 are fixed on the roll 66, which,in turn, is rotatably mounted, by means of shaft '72 between the framemembers 32 and 34, for rotation in time with the envelopes E carried bybelt 46. Backing roll 74 is provided just below the upper reach of belt46 in vertical alignment with roll 66 to provide a firm surface againstwhich the pickers 68 and 70 may act. The pickers 68 and 70 pick up gumfrom transfer roll 76, which is in contact with the gum in tub 78, thetransfer roll 76 being driven by suitable drive means (not shown) in amanner well known in this art.

The conveyor mechanism indicated generally at 20 includes two spaced,parallel chains 84 and 86, chain 84 being trained about sprocket wheels22 and 26, and chain 86 being trained about sprocket wheels 24 and 28.Rotation of a pair of the sprocket wheels 22 and 24 causes the chains tomove in unison in a closed path. The chains 84 and 36 are spaced apart adistance suitable to accommodate the widest envelope contemplated to becarried in this mechanism.

Extending between the respective chains 84 and 86 and carried thereby,are a plurality of rods 88, positioned such as to intersect each of thechains at right angles. The ends of the rods 88 are rotatably mounted inthe pivot points of the adjacent chain links. Thus, the rods 83 are freeto rotate at any point on the conveyor.

Means for carrying the envelopes E on the conveyor mechanism 26 comprisethe pairs of cooperating rollers 90 and so. Each of the alternate rods88 are provided with several spaced apart rollers 90. At the samelateral positions as the rollers 91) are provided on each of the otheralternate rods several rollers 96). The rollers 90 and so are made of africtional material, or are provided with an outer periphery offrictional material. The rollers 90 are in frictional peripheralengagement with the rollers 90' of an adjacent shaft. Envelopes are thuscarried on the conveyor individually between a row of the rollers 90 andan adjacent row of rollers 90'.

To utilize all the available space on the conveyor mechanism 20, a rod88 is provided at each of the chain link pivot points. The rods 88 aretherefore equally spaced along the conveyor mechanism, and the radius ofeach of the rollers 90 and 96' should be equal to half the distancebetween centers of the rods 88. If the rollers 90 and 90' were alllocated at the same lateral positions on the rods 88, rotation of asingle rod would cause a continuous train of rollers to rotate. Toprevent this, the rollers of each pair of rods 88 are staggered, i.e.,located at different lateral position between the chains. As will beobserved in FIGURE 3, alternate pairs of rods 88 may have their rollerslocated at similar lateral positions, and at different lateral positionsfrom either of the adjacent pairs of rods. Thus, when any particularshaft is rotated, only the rollers on that particular shaft and theadjacent shaft having its rollers at the same lateral positions willrotate.

Except at the entry station A and the discharge station B, the rods 88do not rotate. However, at the entry stastation A, means are providedfor rotating the pairs of rollers for accepting envelopes E from thebelt 46, and subsequently drawing them between the rollers apredetermined distance. At discharge station B, means are provided forrotating the pairs of cooperating rollers a second time to discharge theenvelopes.

To rotate the rollers 90 and 9% in the desired manner at the desiredtimes at entry station A and discharge station B, frictional pads orcams and 102 are placed at predetermined points adjacent the path of therods 88. Friction wheels 1% are fixed to certain of the rods 88 inposition such that the periphery thereof will intersect tangentially thesurface of cam 1% to cause the successive pairs of rollers 9t) and 90 torotate as they move past station A in a direction, and for the necessarylength of time, to draw in an envelope from the belt 46. Conversely,friction wheels 106 are fixed to other of the rods 88 in positions suchthat the periphery thereof will intersect tangentially the surface ofcam 102 at the discharge station B to rotate the wheels 90 and 90 indirections to discharge the envelopes from between the rollers 90 and90', The length of the cams 100 and 102 determine the amount of rotationimparted to the wheels 104 and 106 respectively. This length will bedetermined by the amount by which the envelopes are to be withdrawnbetween the rollers .90 and 90, and will vary with different sizes ofenvelopes. The cams 100 and 102, and the wheels 104 and 106 should be ofa construction and material such that when the wheels 104 and 106 movealong in tangential contact with the surface of a cam 100 or 102, therewill be substantially no slipping. The beginning and ending of rotationof the wheels 104 and 106 may be adjusted to the most desirable limitsby adjusting the length or extent of the cams 100 and 102, or the camsmay be made readily changeable to provide for the proper amount ofrotation of the'wheels 104 and 106.

FIGURES 5 through 8 illustrate in schematic form the manner in which afreshly gumrned envelope is inserted in the conveyor mechanism 20. Aspreviously stated, the timing of the envelopes passing under the gummingapparatus must be accurate so that gum will be placed in the-correctpositions on the envelopes. Complete control over the position and speedof the envelopes is maintained by means of the belt 46. The belt 46 andconveyor mechanism 20.are synchronized so that the envelopes arecorrectly inserted in the conveyor mechanism 20. FIGURES 5 shows anenvelope E, and a set of the rollers 90 and 90' just prior to insertion.The periphery of wheel 104 has already contacted the surface of cam 100,and consequently the rollers 90 and 90' are rotating in proper directionfor causing the envelope E to be pulled into the nip of the rollers, asindicated in FIGURES 5 through 8. FIGURE 6 illustrates the leading edgeof the envelope being inserted into the nip of rollers 90 and 90'.Notice that the envelope E is still under the control of belt 46, andhas not at this point been removed from the influence of the vacuumchamber 58. In FIGURE 7, the rolls 90 and 90' are still rotating, andthe envelope E is being drawn between the rolls, and away from the belt46. The envelope E is, at this point, free from belt 46. In FIGURE 8,wheel 104 has just reached the end of the cam 100, and rotation of thewheels 90 and fit) is discontinued at this point. The extent of cam 100in the direction of travel of the conveyor mechanism 20 is such thatwheels 90 and 90 will rotate an amount to draw in the envelope E apredetermined distance. The envelope E is held in the position indicatedin FIGURE 8 during its travel through the drier mechanism until itreaches the discharge station B.

FIGURES 9 and 10 illustrate in schematic form, the manner in which theenvelopes E are discharged from the conveyor mechanism 20, after dryinghas been completed. In FIGURE 9, the conveyor mechanism 20 is moving inthe direction of the arrow. Wheel 1% has tangentially contacted thesurface of cam 102, causing the rollers 90 and 90 to rotate in thedirection indicated, to discharge envelope E therefrom. A removalconveyor 120 is provided for clearing the envelopes away from thedischarge station E. The position of the cam 102 is such that wheel 106will be caused to begin rotating at a position far enough in advance ofthe conveyor 120, so that the envelope E will be completely dischargedprior to intercepting the conveyor 120, as best shown in FIGURE 10.

From the above description, it will be understood that my novel conveyormechanism may be adapted for use with many different types of envelopemaking machines. It will also be understood that the path of theconveyor mechanism may assume various forms, and is not limited to thatembodiment shown in FIGURE 1. For example, the path of the conveyormechanism at the discharge station B may assume a form such that theenvelopes E will be discharged vertically into an upright stack, insteadof horizontally, as illustrated. Various other changes in the details,materials, steps and arrangements of parts, which have been hereindescribed and illustrated in order to explain the nature of theinvention, may be made by those skilled in the art within the principleand scope of the invention as expressed in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. Mechanism for conveymg envelopes through a drying zone comprising (a)A pair of rollers in substantially axially parallel position, and havingperipheral frictional engagement,

(b) A carrier member having a closed path of travel,

(c) Means mounting said rollers on said carrier member for movementtherewith,

(d) The path of said carrier member having a point in which said rollerscome into intercepting position with the path of an envelope to beplaced in said mechanism,

(e) Means for rotating said rollers in opposite directions during aportion of the movement of said ear rier members, for receiving anenvelope into the nip of the rollers, and discontinuing rotation at apredetermined point when the envelope has been drawn between the rollersan appreciable distance,

(f) Means for rotating said rollers in opposite directions a second timeduring a portion of movement of said carrier member spaced from theportion during which the envelope is received therein and continuingrotation thereof until the envelope carried thereby has been discharged.

2. Mechanism for conveying envelopes through a drying zone comprising(a) A pair of rollers in substantially axially parallel position andhaving peripheral frictional engagement,

(b) A pair of endless, laterally spaced and parallel conveyor chains,

(c) Means for tautly supporting said chains for movement in unison alonga closed path,

(d) Means mounting said rollers between said chains such that the axesof said rollers are substantially perpendicular to said chains,

(e) The path of said conveyor chains having a point in which saidrollers come into intercepting position with the path of an envelope tobe placed in the drying mechanism,

(f) Means for rotating said rollers in opposite directions during aportion of the movement of said carrier members, for receiving anenvelope into the nip of the rollers, and discontinuing rotation at apredetermined point when the envelope has been drawn between the rollersan appreciable distance,

(g) Means for rotating said rollers in opposite directions a second timeduring a portion of movement of said carrier member spaced from theportion during which the envelope is received therein, and continuingrotation thereof until the envelope carried thereby has been discharged.

' 3. Mechanism for conveying envelopes through a drying zone comprising(a) A pair of endless, laterally spaced and parallel conveyor chains,

(b) Means for tautly supporting said chains for movement in unison alonga closed path,

(0) A pair of spaced and parallel rods extending between said chains,each rod being perpendicular to each chain,

(d) Means for rotatably attaching each of said rods to each of saidchains at fixed points on the chains for movement therewith,

(e) A roller fixed to each of said shafts, said rollers being infrictional engagement with each other,

(f) The path of said chains having a point in which said rollers comeinto intercepting position with the path of an envelope to be placed inthe conveyor mechanism,

(g) Means for rotating said shafts in opposite directions during aportion of the movement of said chains for receiving an envelope intothe nip of the rollers, and discontinuing rotation at a predeterminedpoint point when the envelope has been drawn between the rollers anappreciable distance, and

(h) Means for rotating said shafts in opposite directions a second timeduring a portion of movement of said carrier member spaced from theportion during which the envelope is received therein and continuingrotation thereof until the envelope carried thereby has been discharged.

4. Mechanism according to claim 3 in which there are several rollersfixed to and spaced along the lengths of each of said shafts.

5. Mechanism according to claim 3 in which there are a plurality ofpairs of said rods carried by said chains.

6. Mechanism for conveying envelopes through a drying zone comprising(a) A pair of endless, laterally spaced and parallel conveyor chains,

(b) Means for tautly supporting said chains for movement in unison alonga closed path,

(c) A plurality of pairs of spaced and parallel rods extending betweensaid chains, each rod being perpendicular to each chain,

(d) Means for rotatably attaching each of said rods to each of saidchains at fixed points on the chains for movement therewith,

(e) Severalrollers fixed to and spaced apart along the lengths of eachof said shafts, said rollers being in frictional engagement with therollers of the shaft with which it pairs,

(f) The path of said chains having a point in which said rollers comeinto intercepting position with the path of an envelope to be placed inthe conveyor mechanism,

(g) Means for rotating each pair of shafts in opposite directions duringa portion of the movement of said chains for receiving an envelope inthe nip of the rollers, and discontinuing rotation at a predeterminedpoint when the envelope has been drawn between the rollers anappreciable distance, and

(h) Means for rotating each of said pairs of shafts in oppositedirections a second time during a portion of movement of said carriermember spaced from the portion during which the envelope is receivedtherein and continuing rotation thereof until the envelope carriedthereby has been discharged.

7. Mechanism according to claim 6 in which each of the shafts areequally spaced along the chains and the rollers of adjacent pairs arestaggered to prevent peripheral contact with rollers other than pairingrollers.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,974,098 9/1934Becker 93--74 X 2,604,829 7/ 1952 Heywood 93-74 2,755,906 7/1956 Heywood19824 ROBERT B. REEVES, Primary Examiner.

1. MECHANISM FOR CONVEYING ENVELOPES THROUGH A DRYING ZONE COMPRISING(A) A PAIR OF ROLLERS IN SUBSTANTIALLY AXIALLY PARALLEL POSITION, ANDHAVING PERIPHERAL FRICTIONAL ENGAGEMENT, (B) A CARRIER MEMBER HAVING ACLOSED PATH OF TRAVEL, (C) MEANS MOUNTING SAID ROLLERS ON SAID CARRIERMEMBER FOR MOVEMENT THEREWITH, (D) THE PATH OF SAID CARRIER MEMBERHAVING A POINT IN WHICH SAID ROLLERS COME INTO INTERCEPTING POSITIONWITH THE PATH OF AN ENVELOPE TO BE PLACED IN SAID MECHANISM, (E) MEANSFOR ROTATING SAID ROLLERS IN OPPOSITE DIRECTIONS DURING A PORTION OF THEMOVEMENT OF SAID CARRIER MEMBERS, FOR RECEIVING AN ENVELOPE INTO THE NIPOF THE ROLLERS, AND DISCONTINUING ROTATION AT A PREDETERMINED POINT WHENTHE ENVELOPE HAS BEEN DRAWN BETWEEN THE ROLLERS AND APPRECIABLEDISTANCE, (F) MEANS FOR ROTATING SAID ROLLERS IN OPPOSITE DIRECTIONS ASECOND TIME DURING A PORTION OF MOVEMENT OF SAID CARRIER MEMBER SPACEDFROM THE PORTION DURING WHICH THE ENVELOPE IS RECEIVED THEREIN ANDCONTINUING ROTATION THEREOF UNTIL THE ENVELOPE CARRIED THEREBY HAS BEENDISCHARGED.